30 Days of Thanks Day 30: December!

Tonight is the last of my 30 Days of Thanks posts for 2017. Another year, another round of daily gratitude posts.

I am thankful that I made it through the month. I am proud of myself for setting the goal on October 31st of committing to daily gratitude posts – and meeting the goal! I have not been consistent with my daily writing this past year, but I managed to pull this off.

I am grateful, so incredibly grateful, to all of you who read my posts and supported me on this journey. Your comments, emails, and texts kept me focused and gave me strength when I was ready to say, “I’m not going to finish!”

Yet, here we are. Tomorrow is December 1st. I am reminded yet again how important it is to remain grateful in the midst of life’s challenges.

Did everything n November go according to plan? Of course not.

But so many amazing things happened in November – from Hamilton, to Brava!, to cookies with my sisters, and everything in between.

I am truly blessed to be surrounded by so much love. I am grateful for the opportunity to work and live independently. I appreciate your support and loyalty to me and my writing.

Welcome December!

30 Days of Thanks Day 29: Technology

Today I saw an online video advertisement for a “lazy arm.” This device mounts to a table or headboard and holds a person’s tablet or smartphone. While the advertisement touted it as perfect for “your lazy friend,” I thought of disabled people I know who could find more independence with this device.

This afternoon I used my phone to connect with friends in Texas, Tasmania, and Alaska. I confirmed my doctor appointment and booked my paratransit bus for tomorrow without needing to make a phone call.

Tonight I will sleep using a machine that has a computer chip to record my breathing. When my doctor needs to know about my sleep and breathing patterns I simply eject the child and bring it to the office.

Every day, my life is made more independent by technology. Some advancements are large, and sometimes the simplest technology is the most profound. I am grateful for the increased access, and I look forward to what is coming next.

30 Days of Thanks Day 28: New Appliances

Aside from this past year when I lived with my friend, I have never been able to do laundry without paying for it at a laundromat or my apartment complex laundry room. But, my new apartment has washer and dryer hook-ups!

I suspect most women in my demographic (college educated, employed full-time, mid-40’s) have already purchased their first major appliance by now. Shopping for and purchasing a new washer and dryer seemed like a very grown up task!

Today, my new washer and dryer were delivered and installed. I’ve done two loads of laundry – or rather, my Personal Assistant did two loads of my laundry. Already I am excited about how much more my staff will be able to complete in a shift by not needing to walk to another building to do laundry.

Tonight, I am grateful for the conveniences new appliances bring to my world.

30 Days of Thanks Day 27: Flannel Sheets

It is starting to get cold at night here in upstate New York. That means it’s time for the flannel sheets to come out.

I can’t move in bed if I have a lot of weight on my body. But I love to be warm. Flannel sheets are the perfect answer because they provide great warmth without extra weight.

Tonight I will be crawling into a bed made with penguin flannel sheets for the first time this season. Yes, I own penguin flannel sheets. Multiple sets if you want to know the truth.

You got a problem with a 44 year old spinster sleeping in a bed made with flannel sheets with penguins on them?! At least I don’t have cats!

30 Days of Thanks Day 26: Flowers

I got back from my Thanksgiving holiday this afternoon. When I walked in my apartment, the first thing I saw was a new flower on my peace lily plant.

If you are unfamiliar with the story of my peace lily plant, and the significance of a new flower, I encourage you to read this post.

Coming home to a new flower felt like my sister and my father were greeting me as I returned from this past weekend. I smiled and offered a prayer of gratitude.

Then I managed to shove eight containers full of cookies in my freezer.